Multilingual Resources about the UK asylum process

Refugee Action has developed multilingual videos and diagrams outlining important information about the asylum process in the UK. The Asylum Guide website can be found at the link below:

https://www.asylumguides.org/multilingual-resources

• Connect with people
• Be physically active
• Learn new skills
• Give to others
• Pay attention to the moment

 Before the pandemic, many asylum seekers visited the Asha Centre to meet with others, have a coffee, feel connected, enjoy Saturday football, attend the women and children clubs, to sew and do crafts. Some became volunteers at the centre or in the community. There was a summer excursion, a Christmas party, classes, and opportunities to contribute local events like the Hartshill International Festival, or a NorSCARF conference. More recently Asha’s drummers were in demand for local festivals.

Lockdown severed these connections, but Asha immediately set about the task of adapting to these straightened circumstances.

Food was delivered to those unable to travel into Hanley and distributed on the car park for those who could. Bicycles were donated, repaired, and distributed, casework   and after a brief gap, English teaching continued online.

Supporting families and children remained a priority and funding was obtained to purchase and distribute tablets and speakers and Wi-Fi to 50 of the most vulnerable families. Staff kept in touch weekly by phone, WhatsApp and online. The Asha bulletins (under News) describes how this work has progressed to include Zoom exercise classes for men, women, and children.

Here are some websites with information about Covid-19 and links on activities to promote a sense of well-being.

Wellbeing/meditation exercises

relaxation techniques developed for refugees and asylum seekers – https://www.uel.ac.uk/research/refugee-mental-health-and-wellbeing-portal/resource-centre/relaxation-techniques

written information on meditation and meditation audio – https://www.mindful.org/how-to-meditate/

http://learn.4mentalhealth.com/sites/default/files/courses/wb8/index.html#/

from young minds, lots of information about how to help mental health issues –

https://youngminds.org.uk/blog/looking-after-your-mental-health-while-self-isolating/

YouTube video links

Mini meditation – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IReEu2kI6oI

Breathing Ball – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5f5N6YFjvV

Laughter yoga exercises – one teacher –

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1v1WvakrYY&list=RDr1v1WvakrYY&start_radio=1&t=0 – laughter yoga exercises

Exercises to do in the park on your daily walk –

https://www.facebook.com/oksanastubbspt/videos/540299126885101/?__tn__=%2CdkCH-R-R&eid=ARCogcSP67DFTbdWp07C-LXZTEW9lyQN4MCKKYtNMbVzxyTiLSimGbHQgfilVV78S4k866ZNVW5EyqTI&hc_ref=ARSwcuhl41YBt0bCG4CZUi5DBslm1YJheAznYfpuxVk–zX9bq0Q4BRFaeuXoTP8KAE&fref=nf&hc_location=group

Sir Duke from St Joseph’s School, Stoke-on-Trent – An uplifting song performed by children from a Stoke-on-Trent school to get you dancing in your room –

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sd5LU-MoQV8&feature=share&fbclid=IwAR3XIWCfJ74ibYzhSyLqcKQIaVfWhfWAetg_5ZQHdYOCFeMbnO8vysQI5BU

Information

information to support mental health during coronavirus – https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/coronavirus-and-your-wellbeing/?fbclid=IwAR0gm5-Q0AX6yBnAqF2ZWn6yBXYD4UmAJA6bqRnE-ZIG27UzTjwy49FCoVA#collapsea1397

how to get Coronavirus info on WhatsApp – https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-launches-coronavirus-information-service-on-whatsapp